roningreensboro

Windsurfer, do you know what the new contractors are going to use instead of tunnel form?

I have been reading through the websites of the developers and no one is listing the building materials. I will have to say that it will be concrete. The way the amenities deck looks it is very similar to the Avenue, also from the renderings the placement of the columns suggest that the skeleton will be concrete.

Just imagine how that view will look once the Vue, One Wachovia and the other tower projects are completed or gain some height. Nice picture atlrvr!!

^ If you think about it, if Charlotte did this they would start down the path of a 24hr city.

The one thing that CATS should probably consider is some of the night buisnesses that stay open past 1am and customers leave at like 3am. If the train ran at least until 4am on certain nights ridership would be at a good level for that time of night. When I visit Charlotte with friends of mine from Greensboro we usually go to a club then to Fuel, or Pita pit afterwards for food and by the time we leave it is 3am. Parking is always a pain and now that the park and rides are avaliable, it is logical now to just park there and take the train in. It would suck though to finish eating and then have no way of getting back to the park and ride. I see where it may not work now but possibly in the future though. Maybe only heavy rail systems like LA, NYC, and Chicago can afford to run 24hrs.

Just reading the post about ridership, does anyone think that ridership and demand will grow to the point that CATS will have to run the train 24hrs? I think that Charlotte is growing at a rate that it's downtown density, population, etc., will be comparable to other major metropolitans.

I have had similar experience from ridding Chicago's EL system. Usually people just ignore what's going on unless actuall physical contact is being made. ie, fighting, pushing, or harrassment that leads to violence. IMO southern culture and people will be more likely to confront situations like this that will lead to situations like above than northern culture and people who just don't let it bother them.

After reading everyones experience of the new addition to CLT, I feel like I have to add mine too. I rode it today (yesterday) from 7th street station to Bland. I had to go to the drug store and wanted to get lunch too. The first thing that caught me off guard was the ticket machine. It was a little difficult to use plus too low. After boarding I noticed the LYNX workers counting the number of passengers and observing. I hope they are surveying for the northline. With the number of people riding now I don't see why they are not breaking ground, but back to the story. After going through the 3rd street station the train became very crowded and I began to smile. I have experienced NYC and Chicago rail transits and it was at this moment that Charlotte starting feeling like a true CITY. With all the people on the train plus the beautiful veiws of uptown, all I could envision was the completed light rail system and completed skyscrapper projects that will be along the blue line. Once arriving to the Bland station I couldn't help but be excited by the fact that I didn't have to drive and fight traffic to go this far. I walked to the CVS then across the street to the Quizno's and back to the station. It only took the train about 7 minutes to show. However the computer announcer said 14 minutes. I took the train to the 3rd street station and walked to the starbucks then to my car at the 7th street parking deck. The walk from the 3rd street station to Starbucks put it all in perspective. I will never view Charlotte the same. I can only view Charlotte to what it may become. For that time Charlotte felt new, reborn and not like a city of the "Southern Way." My heart is truely with Chicago and will always be. Im hoping on my one way ticket to Chicago but, if I have to live the remainder of my life in N.C. the state I was born and raised, I hope that it is in Charlotte. Today's ride solidified that.

I agree Cityboi, but in my belief the new section of the Jefferson Pilot (Lincoln Financial) should have been taller. I think it would have accented the design better.

Thanks guys, for all your help on posting photos.

I am going to try this.

Guilford Building. Attempt #1 http://img.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=3008...id=25007316/img

Thanks, I will give it a shot tonight.

How do you post photo's. I have some photos I want to share

The Trump Chicago in my opinion is a beautiful building, I saw it in October as they were working on the bottom half. As far as Charlotte having that design, I feel like it could work but not truely add to the Charlotte skyline. IMO The Trump Chicago is a spin off of the Sears tower, so it fits for its element. If by some chance the Trump Charlotte was a hybrid of the BoA tower and Hearest Building (I think I got that right) then that would be nice.

This is a shock to me, I thought they would hold onto such a valuable property. I just hope that Starmont shift their interest to downtown Greensboro.

Just remember, Trump has an image to maintain.

IMO I feel that whatever Trump does, mix use or strictly office, that the building be in Art Decco form. That is the one tower that Charlotte is missing. Every tall building is an International style or New Age. Charlotte needs something that reflects something of the past but at the same time very modern. IMO Art Decco towers are very beautiful and eye appealing.

Your right, when it was Guilford courthouse downtown was actually where the battle of Guilford Courthouse was. Then they realized that the actual county seat was 8 miles south where downtown is today and where Greensborough born.